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District of Columbia driving lesson · Getting Your DC License

Your road test vehicle

A 3-minute lesson from the District of Columbia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Getting Your DC License
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
13

The car you bring must pass the examiner's checklist before the test starts. If it doesn't, the test can be cancelled. You can also use a DMV road test vehicle instead.

Know the rule

The vehicle must have a hand emergency brake between the seats. Instead, it may have a second steering wheel and/or brake on the passenger side, or another emergency safety device within easy reach of the examiner.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Paperwork and tags the vehicle needs:

  • A current registration from any state
  • A liability insurance card or the policy, identifying the vehicle and showing the expiration date
  • A valid inspection sticker (if required in the state where it is registered)
  • Front and rear license tags (if required in the state where it is registered)
Handbook p. 13 ↗

Equipment that must be in order:

  • Working brake lights, signals, horn, and driver/passenger windows and doors
  • A rear-view mirror and two properly placed side view mirrors
  • A windshield with no cracks or debris and nothing hanging from the rearview mirror
  • Tires in good condition and properly inflated; spare (donut) tires are not acceptable
  • No service or warning lights on the dashboard, including low gas
Handbook p. 13 ↗

Know the rule

Rental vehicles are allowed only if the person taking the test is listed on the rental contract as an approved driver with proper insurance coverage.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Using a DMV road test vehicle:

  • Available when you take your road test directly with DC DMV; you choose when you arrive
  • Road tests scheduled with a third party are not eligible
  • There is no additional fee
  • You must complete the "Consent, Waiver and Indemnity" form before the test
Handbook p. 13 ↗

Put it into practice

You pull in for your road test with the low-fuel light on and an air freshener on the mirror. Both break the vehicle rules (no warning lights, nothing hanging from the mirror), so your test may be cancelled.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What emergency braking feature must the vehicle used for a DC road skills test have?
  1. A four-wheel-drive system
  2. A hand emergency brake between the seats
  3. A rearview backup camera
  4. A foot-operated parking brake

Answer: A hand emergency brake between the seats

The test vehicle needs a hand emergency brake between the seats, or a second brake/steering wheel the examiner can reach.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
Which tire type is NOT acceptable for a DC road skills test vehicle?
  1. A radial tire
  2. A properly inflated standard tire
  3. A spare (donut) tire
  4. A tire with full tread

Answer: A spare (donut) tire

The test vehicle must have tires in good condition; spare donut tires are not acceptable.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
A DC road test may be cancelled if the examiner believes they could not reach the brake or stop the vehicle in an emergency.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

The road test can be cancelled if the examiner would have trouble reaching the brake or otherwise stopping the vehicle.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
Rental vehicles are never allowed for a DC road skills test under any circumstances.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Rental vehicles are allowed if the test-taker is listed as an approved driver on the rental contract with proper insurance.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
There is an additional fee to use a DMV road test vehicle instead of your own for a DC road skills test.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

There is no additional fee to use the DMV's own road test vehicle.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
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